Boat propelling device



Dec. 1, 1936. s WELLS 2,062,546

BOAT PROPELLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 51, 1935 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1936. 1. s. WELLS BOAT PROPELLING DEVICE 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1935 Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES BOAT PROPELLING DEVICE Isaac Sidney'Wells, Laurel, Miss.

Application December 31, 1935, Serial'No. 57,020:

Claims.

This invention relates to an impeller for small water craft, the primary object of the invention being to provide an impeller of the fish-tail type,

v and one which may be operated by a rotary movement imparted to the power shaft of the impeller,

while the operator is seated in an upright position facing the bow of the boat.

An important object of the invention is the pro- ;vision of an impelling device of this character which may be operated as 'a steering means without interfering with. the operation of the device as an impelling means;

Another object of the invention is to construct a propelling device which may be turned to a position under the boat, whereupon the" device may be operated to impel the boat in a reverse direction. A further object of the invention is to provide means for regulating the stroke or throw of.the propeller;

A. still further object of the invention is to mount the. impeller in such a manner that verticalpivotal. movement of the impeller willbe permitted,.thereby insuring against the impeller becoming damaged or rendered inoperative,.due to the boat passingover rocks or other submerged obstructions.

With the foregoing and other objects inview,

which will appear as the description proceeds, theit invention resides in the combination and arrangementof". parts andin the:details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view through the stern of a water craft, illustrating an impelling device constructed in accordance with the invention, as mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevational view illustrating the operating handle and power shaft.

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the propeller as mounted on the propeller bar of the device.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the lower end of the power shaft showing the impelling bar as connected therewith.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the propeller bar.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I! of Figure 9.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8,8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectionaliview'taken on line 9'-9 ofFigure'l." Figure 10 is a fragmental detail view illustrating a modified form of handle and power shaft.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the water craft or boat is indicated generally'by the'reference character 5, and is provided with the usual seats fi' to be occupied by the operators of the im-' pelling device. i

Extending through the bottom of' the water;

craft or boat,- is a power shaft 1 that is'encased in the tube 8 that provides a bearing for the power shaft, the tube being secured within the:

bottomof'the boatby means ofthe threade-diplate' 9 that in turn is bolted to-the bottonrot the boat by'means ofbolts ID." A brace rod H" connects with thetubeB and is boltedto thebottom of the boat, holding the tube: 8" andupower shaftzhousedn: thereby, in a slightlyinclinedposition.

On the lower end of the power shaft 8',- is -a. I

propelling. bar II that tapers towards 'theffront end thereof; Where it' is providedizwith an opening to accommodate the pin lfi that connectsthe pro-j peller bar l4 to-the propelli'ngbar I2; 1

- The propeller bar i4 is formed with a "cutout portion'i I5 extending inwardly from one i end thereof, the cutout portion-being-of a length so that when-the propeller-bar is connectedrwith the propelling'bar'there will be. a slight' 'cleara'nce between the: inner end of the=cutout p,ortion.li5 and wideend: of the' propelling. bar." i2. An extension indicated:- by the: reference character I6 is; formed cm the wide: end. of: thev propelling. bar' l"2:"and; provides a shoulder to accommodate the propeller bar l4, when thepropeller bar is in its normal position. It will be seen that due to thisconstruction, vertical movement of the propeller bar I4 between the extension l6 and bottom of the boat, will be permitted to the end that should the boat pass over a rock or other submerged obstruction and contact with the obstruction, the propeller bar I4 will rise allowing the boat to pass over such obstruction without damage to the impeller.

The propeller bar M has its forward end extended upwardly so that when the propeller bar is in its normal position, it willrest in a substantially horizontal position.

An elongated opening I7 is formed in the propeller bar 14 and is designed to accommodate the bolt l8 which passes through the block l9v that Mounted on the propeller bar Id at a point between the elongated opening 11 and free end thereof, is a bearing 2| in which one end of the pin 22 is secured, the pin 22 providing a support for the propeller 23, which is of the fish-tail type. Due to the construction of the propeller and yieldable arms, the propeller, with each movement to the right or left, will strike one of the arms 20 restricting movement of the propeller 23 and causing the propeller to move the water craft with which it is connected, forwardly. By adjusting the yieldable arms longitudinally of the propeller bar 14, the stroke or throw of the propeller 23 may be adjusted.

Should it be desired to operate the water craft in a reverse direction, this may be accomplished by rotating the power shaft 1 to bring the propeller bar I4 and propeller 23 supported thereon to a position directly under the water craft, as

indicated in dotted lines in Figure l of the drawings. By imparting a quarter turn to the shaft 1 alternately in opposite directions, the propeller 23 will be caused to swing laterally to impel the water craft or boat forwardly.

It will of course be understood that handle bars such as shown at 24, are mounted on the upper end of the power shaft I whereby movement may be imparted to the power shaft 1.

The handle and power shaft as shown by Figure 10 of the drawings are of a construction to insure against the handle rotating at, the upper end of the power shaft. The power shaft is indicated by the reference character 25 and has its upper end tapered as at 26. Keys 21 extend from the tapered portion of the power shaft and fit in grooves formed in the hub and the handle section 28. A nut indicated by the reference character 29 is threaded on the end of the power shaft and engages the handle 28, securing the handle in position.

In view of the foregoing description, it is thought that a further detail description as tov the operation of the device is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an impeller for water craft, a power shaft extending through the bottom of the water craft, a propelling bar movable with the power shaft, a propeller bar pivotally connected with the propelling bar and adapted. to rotate with I the propelling bar, said propeller bar having an'elongated opening, a block mounted on the propeller bar, a bolt extending through the elongated opening and block, adjustably connecting the block to the propeller bar, yieldable arms on the block, said arms diverging towards the free end of the propeller bar, a pivoted fish-tail propeller mounted on the propeller bar and operating between the yieldable arms, said arms restricting lateral movement of the propeller as the propeller bar moves laterally, causing the water craft to move forwardly, and. a handle on the power shaft.

2. In an impeller for water craft, a vertical power shaft extending through the bottom of the craft, a propelling bar on the lower end of the power shaft, a propeller bar mounted for vertical pivotal movement on the propelling bar, a fishtail propeller pivotally mounted on the propeller bar, handle-bars on the shaft whereby the shaft may be swung laterally and the propeller operated, and means for restricting lateral movement of the propeller.

3. In an impeller for water craft, a vertical power shaft extending through the bottom of the craft, a propelling bar mounted on the lower end of the shaft, a propeller bar pivotally connected with the propelling bar and extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of the craft, a propeller mounted on the propeller bar, adapted to propel the craft when the propeller bar swings laterally, and means for restricting vertical movement of the propeller bar.

4. In an impeller for water craft, an operating shaft extending through the bottom of the craft, a propeller bar, means for pivotally connecting the propeller bar to the shaft whereby the propeller bar may swing vertically, a propeller mounted on the propeller bar and adapted to operate to propel the craft when the propeller swings laterally, and means for restricting vertical movement of the propeller bar.

5. In an impeller for water craft, an operating shaft extending through the bottom of the craft,

a propeller bar, means for pivotally connecting the propeller bar to the shaft, yieldable arms mounted on the propeller bar and diverging towards the rear end of the propeller bar, a fishtail propeller mounted on the propeller bar and adapted to swing laterally between the arms, restricting movement of the propeller, and means for adjusting the arms with respect to the propeller.

ISAAC SIDNEY WELLS. 

